Today is Sunday. It's August 28th.
It's after 4:00 p.m. and I'm just now getting started on today's post. It's been busy. Church. Nap. Out to lunch and Pinkberry (photos later in the post... :) ). Nap. Watch Britt & Kenneth open a few wedding gifts and then say good-bye as they head back to Raleigh. Nap. Organize the cabinet full of plastic containers... not that I think it will stay organized since I'm not the one doing any of the preparing or storing of food, but it sort of made me feel better — except that it also involved a bit of hurt feelings, I'm afraid — and that is never good. What I don't understand is how someone like Ken who likes things nice and neat and tidy can just throw things into a cabinet, close the door, and be good with that. Oh, well. Not a big deal in the whole scheme of things, is it? But amazing how those little things can just gnaw away at you and become bones of contention. I think we're all good now... he left me to the plastics and took a little break away from the house. Good for us both. :)
On the medical front, today my right leg has been kind of swollen and puffy. I've said it before, I think, but every day is a new adventure.
Let's get off that subject and into some of the scripture that I read this morning.
Psalm 42:5-6a, 8, 11
"Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again — my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you —
"Each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.
"Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again — my Savior and my God!"
While I wouldn't really say that I've been discouraged and sad — well, I could easily go there. Especially when my right leg is swelling and I can always tell when it's getting close to time to take the steroids because I begin to feel a little anxious, my face starts to tingle, and also feel like my skin is not quite right. Weird, huh? I'm sorry to be sort of graphic. My thinking is two-fold — I feel sort of compelled to keep a record of some medical stuff and I know that I'm not going to take out a pen & paper to write it down (or if I did it would be scribbled on a scrap and would quickly be lost or not dated and then become meaningless), and another reason is so that the pray-ers out there know specifically how to pray. Today's concern of mine is the swelling. I think that's part of this. But I don't like it much.
But, back to not being discouraged and sad... how can I be discouraged and sad when this is true?: "Each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me" (Psalm 42:8) That is so true. I'll get into talking about my day later, but God has certainly poured out His unfailing love upon me. I mean... we had wonderful family time today... worshiping together and having a chance to go out to eat (like normal people!)... how great is that?!?
"...and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life" (Psalm 42:8) I've been sleeping pretty well lately, but on the nights that have been tough the Lord has been with me every step of the way — and it's especially evident when I put my music on and let the iPod just fill the night with my favorite praise and worship songs. I have definitely not been forgotten by God — and having the music going soothes in a way that will not happen for me if I'm just laying in the dark waiting for morning to come. It focuses me on my Lord and turns any fearful thoughts to praises of my Savior, who will meet ALL my needs. And for that I'm so, so grateful!
I mentioned that Britt & Kenneth have been here. And that was a great reason to go out to eat for Sunday lunch — so, of course, we headed to one of my favorite places... Big Daddy's Burger Bar. :)
Where we ordered fried pickles (delicious with ranch dressing) to share.
And where I got my favorite "Frenchie" — a ground turkey burger on a bun with apple, brie, bacon, and the usual onion, tomato, lettuce (no pickle for me... I like 'em fried, but that's about it...). Oh, and sweet potato fries with chipotle dressing. Yum, yum! Usually I eat half the burger, half the fries, and take the rest home. Um... steroids play with your appetite. I didn't eat every bite, but I sure did come close. And it was delicious.
There we all are. My hair definitely needs work. They won't let me cut it because the mask that I wear during radiation has been made to fit with my hair. But they say that some of my hair will fall out, so I don't really understand that. Fortunately, I guess, I'm not much of a hair-focused person. Although, looking at this picture, maybe I should try a little harder. :)
After lunch, Kenneth & Britt went to exchange a wedding gift and Ken & I went to (drumroll.....) ... Pinkberry! (Of course. We were practically in their neighborhood. :) )
This time I got chocolate and peanut butter frozen yogurt swirled and topped with some chunky peanut butter topping and little crunchy chocolatey round things (I'm sure they have a real name...). Oh, yes... it was quite tasty!
And then Britt & Kenneth opened a couple wedding gifts — one was from us.
We have always been the Thanksgiving house, but we figure that one of these days we'll be passing that duty on to them. And when that time comes they'll need a platter. And now they will have one. :)
So — the newlyweds went back to Raleigh this afternoon and Ken & I are on our own again. And that's a good thing... both for them and for us.
Moving on now... you may know that I've been a pretty much five day a week fixture at Curves for quite a few years now. And the other day I showed you the card that I took to Curves to thank all my workout buddies for their kind thoughts, cards, and prayers. However, I did need to take one more card there, too.
SHOW
I know that it seems crazy to be sending a cupcake card to one of my Curves workout buddies... but you really have to know me and Sara Gwynn. We talk sweets while we're exercising our bodies. I know — seems counterproductive. But we all have our vices, right?
When Sara Gwynn found out about what was going on with me... well, she knew just what to do. Feed the soul with sugar! :) Yep. She's my kinda gal! And that deserved her very own thank you card.
AND TELL: stamps are from Stampin' Up (Create a Cupcake, Delicate Doilies, Silhouette Sentiments); cardstock is Papertrey Ink (Stampers Select White) and SU (So Saffron); ink is SU (Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip); also used SU punches (Cupcake, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border, Decorative Label).
My thank you card giving has been — and will probably continue to be — extremely haphazard. I've kept terrible records — and there is a long, long, l-o-n-g (mental) list of people that I'd like to get cards to. Guess I'll just do the best I can... and hope that everyone knows how grateful we are — whether they receive a thank you note or not.
And now, thank you for stopping by here and visiting with me a for a bit. Our time together is precious to me! I plan to be back again tomorrow. Hope to see you then!